382 
SOUTH SEA 
When these doings of the missionaries are taken 
into consideration — when we consider the uncultivated, 
although cunning mind of the Polynesian islander,— 
when we look to the false spirits which have gone 
among them from Europe and taught them hypocrisy— 
when we consider the tyranny that has been made use 
of to press a religion into their minds which it is im- 
possible for them to appreciate, can we wonder that 
farther progress has not been made among these people ? 
can we wonder at one man failing when he is surrounded 
with difficulties, such as I have mentioned? can we 
wonder at seeing the Society Islanders at the present 
time in a worse state than they ever were before ? 
although missionaries and missionary expeditions have 
been sent out of number, and to the Society Islands in 
particular for these last forty years ! ! 
At the time of our visit to these islands, the mass of 
the people were in the utmost state of demoralization, 
and had been in that condition for some time ; every 
thing had gone into disorder. Mr. Williams, who had 
resided among them for many years, had left in disgust, 
and had abandoned the missionary house to its fate. A 
Mr. Smith, a missionary, whom I saw at Riatea, in- 
formed me that the people were in such an outrageous 
state that it was dangerous to live among them. He 
stated that they got so intoxicated with the spirit they 
had learned to distil from the “ Ti” root, and became so 
maddened from its effect, that they scarcely knew what 
they were doing ; drinking it, as they do, in enormous 
yjpfctities, thinking nothing, in one of their drunken 
